Shabbos 250
CHANUKAH

Chanukah. Eight nights of light.

Light an additional candle each of the 8 nights, recite Hallel each morning, and add Al HaNissim to the Amidah and Birkas Hamazon.

PRINTABLE PACKET

Print your Chanukah packet.

PDF — cover, the five essentials, step-by-step, the blessings, your shopping list, and a one-page FAQ. Personalized with your local times when you set your ZIP.

Without a ZIP we still print the full guide; just no candle-lighting time.
FIVE ESSENTIALS

What you really need to know.

01
Light the menorah each night
After dark (or at sunset depending on custom), light one additional candle per night — 1 on night 1, 8 on night 8.
02
Place where it can be seen
A window facing the public street, or by the front door across from the mezuzah. Within 30 minutes of nightfall.
03
Don't use the light for work
The Chanukah candles are for the mitzvah only. The shamash (helper candle) is used to light them.
04
Add Al HaNissim
In every Amidah + Birkas Hamazon for the 8 days.
05
Hallel each morning
Full Hallel (not the half version) recited each morning for the 8 days.
STEP-BY-STEP

Chanukah, one step at a time.

  1. BEFORE CHANUKAH

    Get your menorah ready.

    A menorah with 8 holders in a line + a higher shamash. Candles or olive oil (oil is preferred). 44 lights total across 8 nights, plus 8 shamash.

  2. NIGHT 1

    First night — 1 candle + shamash.

    Place the candle on the right. Light the shamash first. Recite all three blessings (Lehadlik, She'asa, Shehecheyanu). Light the night's candle with the shamash, then sing HaNeros Hallalu and Maoz Tzur.

  3. NIGHTS 2-8

    Each subsequent night.

    Add one candle to the left. Light the newest candle first (right-to-left placement, left-to-right lighting). Only first two brachos (Lehadlik + She'asa) — Shehecheyanu only on night 1.

  4. EACH MORNING

    Hallel + Al HaNissim.

    Full Hallel in Shacharis. Al HaNissim added to the second blessing of the Amidah and in Birkas Hamazon.

BLESSINGS

What to say, and when.

Every night, before lighting

Lehadlik Ner shel Chanukah

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה

Baruch atah Adonai… l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah.

…who has commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

Every night, before lighting

She'asa Nissim

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch atah Adonai… she'asah nissim la'avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.

…who performed miracles for our fathers in those days at this time.

Night 1 only

Shehecheyanu

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch atah Adonai… shehecheyanu v'kiyemanu v'higiyanu lazman hazeh.

…who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Shopping & prep list.

  • ·Menorah (chanukiah) with 9 holders
  • ·Candles (44 total across 8 nights) or olive oil + wicks
  • ·Shamash candle / wick (8 total)
  • ·Matches or a lighter
  • ·Latkes ingredients (potatoes, onions, oil) — fried-food custom
  • ·Sufganiyot or other fried treats
  • ·Dreidels and gelt (chocolate coins) for kids
TEFILLAH NOTES
  • Al HaNissim added to every Amidah and Birkas Hamazon for 8 days.
  • Full Hallel each morning.
  • No Tachanun for 8 days.
FAQ

Common questions.

When do I light?

After dark — about 30 minutes after sunset by most customs. (Chabad lights at sunset.) On Erev Shabbos, light BEFORE Shabbos candles, with longer-burning candles.

Where do I put the menorah?

Ideally in a window facing the street so the public can see the menorah, or just inside the doorway opposite the mezuzah.

Can I use the menorah candles for light?

No — the Chanukah candles are reserved for the mitzvah. Use the shamash if you need to use the light.

See Chanukah on your calendar.

100 years of local candle lighting and Havdalah times — including every Chanukah between now and 2126.

Open the calendar
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